Lavrov says Russia, India 'consistently reject neo-colonial practices'

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Russia and India consistently reject neo-colonial practices such as unilateral sanctions, threats, and blackmail towards sovereign states, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Wednesday.

Speaking at the opening of an exhibition on Leo Tolstoy and Mahatma Gandhi in New Delhi, where a Group of 20 (G-20) foreign ministers meeting is being held, Lavrov said Russia and India are united by willingness to move to "a more just and democratic, polycentric world order."

"Moscow and New Delhi are consistent opponents of neo-colonial practices such as illegitimate unilateral sanctions, threats, blackmail, and other types of pressure on sovereign states," he stressed.

Lavrov said he sees "significant potential" of India's chairmanship in the G-20.

The minister also held a bilateral meeting with his Indian counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.

Following the meeting, Jaishankar wrote on Twitter that the two ministers had a "wide ranging discussion" on the sidelines of G-20 ministerial meeting.

"Exchanged views on our bilateral cooperation and G20 issues," Jaishankar said.

Lavrov also held bilateral talks with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu.

G-20 includes the G-7 nations as well as Russia, China, India, Türkiye, Brazil, Australia and Saudi Arabia, among others.

The event follows a meeting of finance chiefs of the bloc in Bengaluru last month, where they failed to reach a consensus on Russia’s war on Ukraine.

*Ahmad Adil in New Delhi contributed to this story